Business / Money
Balance Transfer Calculator
Compare keeping a card balance with transferring it, including the transfer fee, promotional APR and the later APR.
Balance Transfer Calculator: Use the same planned monthly payment in both scenarios to compare payoff months, interest and total paid. Also calculate the monthly payment needed to clear the transferred balance and fee during the promotion. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Business & admin tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
The transfer fee is added to the balance and receives the same APR. Interest is APR / 12 on the opening monthly balance, before payment. The post-promotion APR starts the month after the promotional period. No new purchases, annual fees or missed payments are included.
- Saving with transfer ($)
- 1,272.56
- Monthly payment to clear during promotion ($)
- 286.12
- Transfer fee ($)
- 150.00
- Balance after promotion ($)
- 650.00
| Plan | Months | Interest ($) | Total paid ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep current card | 26 | 1,449.36 | 6,449.36 |
| Transfer balance | 21 | 26.80 | 5,176.80 |
Total paid includes the original debt, interest and the transfer fee where applicable. A negative saving means the transfer costs more. The promotion payoff payment is rounded up to the next cent; actual card interest and payment rules can differ.
Fees and introductory rates
CFPB: account-opening disclosures: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1026/6/ covers APRs and balance-transfer fees. Check your offer’s duration, transfer fee and later rate rather than assuming that a zero-interest promotion is free.
Monthly comparison
Monthly interest = opening balance × APR / 1200. The transfer starts with balance × (1 + fee percentage / 100). Total paid includes principal, interest and the fee; saving is the current-card total minus the transfer total.
The model assumes no new spending, missed payments, annual fees or separate purchase balances. It uses monthly interest rather than daily card billing. Non-promotional payoff simulations stop at 1,200 months; totals are withheld for plans that do not finish.
How to use it
- Enter the balance, current APR and planned monthly payment.
- Enter the transfer fee, promotional APR, duration and post-promotion APR.
- Compare total paid and the payment needed to clear the promotion.
Privacy & limitations
All calculations run in your browser. No financial inputs are uploaded.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the transfer fee paid upfront?
The estimate adds the fee to the transferred balance. The same promotional and later APRs apply to both debt and fee.
When does the later APR start?
The month after the entered promotional period. Interest is added before each monthly payment, and the last payment is capped at the remaining amount owed.
Why might no saving be shown?
If either plan cannot clear its balance within the calculation limit, its total cost is not known. A payment that does not cover interest may leave the balance growing.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required